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Dynasty Rankings Movement: Week 9

Movement within the dynasty rankings of the Footballguys staff and the reasoning behind the movement

by Jeff Tefertiller, November 3Photo: Ron Chenoy, US Presswire

Each week, Footballguys staff members will share the big movers in their respective Dynasty Rankings. Since the contributors will rotate, please check in weekly. The focus of this article will be on the “why” more than the movement itself. Dynasty Rankings are fluid and we hope that sharing the rationale will help you in your quest to create dynasties with all of your teams. The diversity of rankings will result in a variety of opinions weekly.

Quarterback

Parsons

Carson Wentz - The Eagles rookie quarterback continues to show well each week. His line-of-scrimmage acumen has advanced to a multiple-year starter level. He is rising near my top-5 dynasty quarterbacks. The optimal move is trading a big dynasty name at the position for Wentz plus additional capital.

Tefertiller

Derek Carr – Carr has led the Raiders to a share of the division lead. He has played well. With his defense yielding big numbers, Carr has responded by winning shootouts, like last Sunday in Tampa Bay. In addition, his big outing against the Buccaneers Sunday buoyed fantasy owners. It was one of the bigger fantasy games, at any position, this season. Carr moved up to QB8 in my rankings due to his consistency. One of the factors helping the Oakland passer is the corps of weapons at Carr’s disposal. Having Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree to target, as well as Seth Roberts, Clive Walford, and Latavius Murray will help Carr enjoy a high fantasy floor most weeks. The game against the Broncos this week will be a good test.

Sam Bradford – We felt this coming for weeks. Bradford has not played well of late and the Monday night game was icing on the proverbial cake. We moved Bradford down to QB26 where sandwiched between Cutler and Flacco. A conservative offense and lack of poise in the pocket have kept Bradford from being a fantasy factor.

Running Back

Tefertiller

Jamaal Charles – Even before the news of Charles going to injured reserve, we moved him down with the possibility growing that he never regains form. The contract extensions and the strong play of Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West make the strong case that Charles has played his last down in a Chiefs uniform.

Jordan Howard – The rookie moves up off a strong Monday night showing against an elite defense. Considering that this big game came with both Langford and Carey healthy, we should be able to assume Howard will be the leading ball carrier for the Bears. While coach Fox may like to utilize running back committees, Howard is undeniably the best ball carrier of the three.

Parsons

Mark Ingram - Ingram's snap count was already low this season for being the 'starter' in his backfield. Now, Ingram has a first quarter fumble in Week 8 and was not seen again the entire game. Tim Hightower, who won fantasy championships late in 2015, took the gig and ran with it the rest of the game. While Ingram will be back in the mix, his upside is capped and the floor on a weekly basis is low. Name value provides a decent exit...for now.

C.J. Prosise - The Day 2 rookie is finally back with his snap count rising. Prosise played almost every meaningful pass down in Week 8 and has overt explosiveness. Prosise, at a minimum, is a roadblock to PPR upside for Christine Michael (or Thomas Rawls) for the rest of the season. Prosise can also continue to progress and begin taking early-down snaps. Prosise is rising on my running back board before the 2017 class crashes the big picture party.

Wide Receiver

Parsons

Phillip Dorsett - Every Colts game I go in expecting to see a Dorsett flash. It has yet to truly happen. While draft position is rather 'sticky' long-term when assigning upside and dynasty value, Dorsett was a lackluster Round 1 receiver historically by my metrics and landed on a depth chart with multiple talented young incumbents (Donte Moncrief, T.Y. Hilton). Dorsett is a long-term hold, if an owner believes, but a lower-upside handcuff more than anything. Dorsett has been fading on my board.

J.J. Nelson - I am as concerned about certifiably 'small' receivers as the next guy, but Nelson played primarily on the outside and a significant number of snaps in Week 8. Nelson is near free and when compared to teammate John Brown's dynasty cost, Nelson is a quality arbitrage opportunity. Michael Floyd is a free agent in the offseason and Larry Fitzgerald is well into his 30s. Nelson, despite an eroding Carson Palmer, is a quality stash.

Tefertiller

Michael Thomas – The Saints rookie looks like the real deal and moved up to WR15 in our rankings. He is now in the same tier as some of the top WRs in the NFL. If dynasty rookie drafts were re-drafted today, Thomas would be the 1.02, behind only Ezekiel Elliott. Thomas’ role is growing as Drew Brees gains confidence in the former Ohio State star.

Stefon Diggs - We were starting to worry about the Vikings receiver before the big game against the Bears. His down performances were due to the groin injury and looked back to his old self. If not for a conservative offense and poor quarterback play, we would hear much more about the Minnesota pass catcher.

Tight End

Tefertiller

Jack Doyle – Doyle has seized the opportunity afforded by the Dwayne Allen injury and has become a reliable receiver for Andrew Luck. His red-zone prowess helps give the youngster upside every week, even with the Colts receivers back from injury. He seems to have assumed the Coby Fleener role and is playing better than Fleener played while in a Colts uniform.

Parsons

Clive Walford - Like Phillip Dorsett, I enter Oakland games monitoring Walford closely as a potential breakout player. Walford's snap counts have been middling this season and the progression from Year 1 to Year 2 has not occurred. With Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree target hogs, plus Seth Roberts playing plenty as the team's No.3 receiver, there are few scraps left for Walford to emerge in the TE1 conversation. With the tight end position an annual reset, I am fading Walford for other upside options and intrigued by the 2017 eligible crop on the horizon.